I have a new camera lens! I had been using the kit lens (18-55 mm) that came with my Canon Rebel T2i, but really wanted to have “bokeh” and realized I’d need a different lens to achieve it. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term “bokeh” (and don’t worry- that was me up until yesterday!) it’s the photography word for that blurred creaminess in the background of many fashion bloggers’ photos.

In all honesty, it’s been a little bit frustrating trying to use the kit lens this past week and taking these photos today was so enjoyable with my new lens! It’s a 50 mm fixed lens, so the focal point is on me and not on the background. If any of you bloggers are looking for a similar result as me, then definitely read up on this! It’s the perfect lens for beginners. And the camera salesguy confirmed this 🙂 We still haven’t figured out how to get the perfect focus in the photos, so my face isn’t always crystal clear but we will practice, practice, practice (and read, read, read the camera manual)!

These benches were so rickety!

The texture of this skirt is adorable with the laced hem.

I often get compliments on these shoes for their similarity to Jeffrey Campbells.

Boo! I picked up this wallet after months of searching for a replacement to my four year old Urban Outfitters wallet that was literally falling apart. The quilting and minimal hardware (i.e. none) was perfect for me.

Land’s End is a lovely little lookout spot at the northwestern corner of San Francisco- just on the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge. Being at the mouth of the Bay means the scenery is dramatic and the waves wild. The trails are winding and cypress trees and wildflowers litter the steep cliffs. I find myself at Land’s End at least twice a week as I find it one of the best spots to see the sunset. Land’s End is home to the Sutro Baths ruins- a swimming complex built on the water’s edge in the late 19th century and the upscale (read: $$) Cliff House restaurant. Within the park there are numerous hidden coves and retreats, but I’ll wait and share that later! I thought it might be fun to include a little map to show you exactly where I am in my photos!

Most of my jewelry is from Etsy- this starfish necklace is no exception!

Good timing?

Once again having a go with the DSLR. I want my iPhone back!!

I consider myself more of an iPhonographer…

For those of you not familiar with San Francisco- the purple star marks Land’s End. It’s on the ocean side of the GGB (Golden Gate Bridge)

If there’s one thing you need to know about San Francisco- besides the fact that the scenery is breathtaking and, oh yes, we are prone to earthquakes- it would that a thick fog often enshrouds the city. The fog even has a name. Meet Karl. Don’t believe me? See here for yourself- he has 177k followers on Instagram! Karl decided, quite rudely, to intrude upon my blog photo shoot yesterday in Golden Gate Park. Slightly irked that I was unable to capture a single photo which wasn’t completely washed out, I vowed to find a more forgiving background for today’s photos. I decided on The Mission- a culturally-rich district in San Francisco which Karl doesn’t frequent with regular occurrence. Sure enough, despite the dreary weather today, The Mission was balmy and bright. I’ll be returning soon- camera in hand.

All eyes on me.

Despite looking like they could poke your eye out, these heels are surprisingly comfortable.

A dainty little elephant necklace.

The quilting sold me on this jacket. The 40% off sale- leather goods included for once- didn’t hurt.

This morning as I lay in bed- having hit snooze for the third time- I reflected back on my unsuccessful trip the day prior at the powerhouse outlet mall that is the Great Mall of the Bay Area (yes, it’s seriously called that). How I’d managed to leave empty handed from a mall with over 200 stores made me question my shopping abilities. Had I lost my spark? Had I missed some store that held the evasive piece that I needed? Maybe fashion had gone downhill this season and that’s why I hadn’t found anything…Yes, that must be it… And then I remembered.

There had been an item lingering in the back of my mind since I saw it three months ago- a pair of grey Superga sneakers. I had reasoned with myself that it was an unnecessary purchase- as fashion purchases often are- since I still had a suitable pair of Roxy sneakers in a similar style. But those had recently become threadbare and therefore this purchase was now necessary! I jumped out of bed, pleased to feel that familiar excitement of adding a much wanted piece to my wardrobe.

I entered the department store two hours later (no, I don’t take that long to get ready. San Franciscan traffic is just terribly slow!) and casually strolled towards the juniors shoes. I usually try to avoid having to talking to salespeople whenever possible, but after circling the sales floor three times, they started to take notice. Like vultures, these commissioned sales associates sized up their prey. Who would get this tasty little morsel, this helpless creature trapped between the wall and a display of rather pointy, dangerous looking heeled shoes? I gulped. Unable to maintain the standoff any longer- a platinum blonde, dressed crisply in all white (did she not know the Memorial Day rule??) broke loose from the pack.

She strode towards me with confidence. Did I need any help, she asked? I gulped again. “Ummm..” I said. Quickly glancing over at those pointy shoes, wondering if they could assist in my escape. “Do you carry…su-per-gah shoes?”, I said quickly. She smirked- and definitely not the nice kind of smirk. “Oh yes, we have su-purrrr-guh”, she replied, rolling her r’s and drawing out the pronunciation. She beckoned me to follow her. “I just love my su-purrr-guh‘s” she gushed. I groaned inwardly. As we approached the table of shoes, she raised her finger, showcasing nails as pointy as the heeled shoes I’d just seen, and made a “come hither” motion to a rather friendly looking gentleman. “Would you like to show this nice lady our selection of su-purrr-guh‘s, Steve?” she said in a mapley sweet voice. As if I hadn’t gotten the pronunciation after the first time she corrected me. I mean, really. I worked in retail for many years, and yes, I admit to occasionally fighting the urge to chuckle at a particularly botched designer name pronunciation, but was this really called for? She wasn’t the shoe designer- she just sold the darn things. What was she all high and mighty for? Thankfully Steve missed her hint at my designer pronunciation faux pas, and kindly assisted me in purchasing my new shoes. Thanks, Steve.

I paired my new kicks with Marc by Marc Jacobs Pants and Banana Republic leather jacket.

Me oh my. I never realized how much effort it takes to capture an outfit! First there was the digging through my storage unit to scrounge out some acceptable clothes that weren’t wrinkly (because finding my iron in the storage unit was like trying to find a needle in a haystack). Then there was the mad dash to the Mosaic Steps trying to beat the setting sun. When my “photographer” and I finally got there we realized neither of us actually knew how to use my DSLR. You might wonder why I even have a camera I don’t know how to use. It seems a bit ridiculous, doesn’t it? Well remember how I said I’ve been wanting to start this blog for some time now? I reckoned if I bought the camera (which was two years ago now), then I’d have no excuse not to start. Well you see how that went! Better late than never, as they say. Since the sun was sinking fast, we snapped a few photos using an iPhone 6 and I have to say I’m pretty pleased! Although I’ve started watching a few YouTube tutorials so I can figure out how the SLR works!

The only photo taken with my DSLR. Now to figure out how to focus the frame…

These boots were made to kick some serious butt.

Getting up close and personal.

NARS Dragon Girl, of course.

The day finished with trekking up to the top of the stairs for sunset. I got some pretty questionable looks. I suppose I understand. I mean, wouldn’t you give a second look to a girl wearing high heeled boots and bright red lips in a sea of work out clad joggers??